I wrote several years ago about the powerful lyrics of Solomon Burke's song "None of us Are Free." The link I provided to his performance has expired so I feel compelled to link again to one of his amazing performances of this song posted on YouTube. We must all understand that
if one of us is chained none of us are free.
Although different writers have written this concept in different ways, no truer words have ever been sung or spoken. We are the keeper of our brother and sister.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T9d1Cdkvk4
Lyric excerpt:
It's a simple truth we all need, just to hear and to see.
None of us are free, one of us is chained.
None of us are free.
now I swear your salvation isn't too hard too find,
None of us can find it on our own.
We've got to join together in spirit, heart and mind.
So that every soul who's suffering will know they're not alone.
Chorus:
None of us are free.
None of us are free.
None of us are free, one of us are chained.
None of us are free.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Frogs in the cement pond
We've all been kept awake the last few night (dogs barking their hearts out) by croaking frogs.
This seemed weird to us because we don't have a nearby stream or pond.
However, because of the strange, cool spring weather we've had our cement pond (pool) has had standing water for a few weeks.
Seems some tree frogs (at least four of them) hopped to the pond and have been calling out for mates.
We moved the frogs back to the tree grove, pumped out the water, and will try to get it ready for the season (read heavy chlorination, no chance for frogs or other creatures to survive) as soon as possible.
We also snapped a photo of one of these cute little frogs.
This seemed weird to us because we don't have a nearby stream or pond.
However, because of the strange, cool spring weather we've had our cement pond (pool) has had standing water for a few weeks.
Seems some tree frogs (at least four of them) hopped to the pond and have been calling out for mates.
We moved the frogs back to the tree grove, pumped out the water, and will try to get it ready for the season (read heavy chlorination, no chance for frogs or other creatures to survive) as soon as possible.
We also snapped a photo of one of these cute little frogs.
Monday, April 11, 2011
My garden photo of the day: 4/11/11
Thursday, April 07, 2011
ideology - not a sincere desire to cut spending - will shut down the government
I can't remember being this upset and disillusioned with Washington in a long time.
Republicans called for a certain amount of cuts to the the budget. Dems called them on it and agreed to that number.
But wait, Boehner and friends now say that the cuts must also include their political passions — cuts to EPA surveillance, screening for cancer and STDs at Planned Parenthood, and funding for two national treasures, NPR and PBS.
I cannot believe that our service men and women in Afghanistan will now have to worry about their families receiving paychecks over the next few weeks.
I cannot believe that children, whose parents plan to bring them to Washington over spring break to see the cherry blossoms and visit the Smithsonian, may have to cancel their trips.
I cannot believe that disabled citizens will have their application for support put on hold.
I cannot believe any of this.
It is, in one word, incomprehensible.
Republicans scream that the American people sent them to Washington last fall to "reign in reckless spending."
Some did.
Many others think that cutting government oversight of the environment, human services, and education is dangerous and ill advised and could lead to the downfall of our great country.
Boehner, Ryan, et al. You have no mandate other than the one you imagine and try to pull out of thin air.
The American People, the ones you so love to invoke, do not want a government shut down. They want responsible compromise. They want responsible leaders.
Republicans called for a certain amount of cuts to the the budget. Dems called them on it and agreed to that number.
But wait, Boehner and friends now say that the cuts must also include their political passions — cuts to EPA surveillance, screening for cancer and STDs at Planned Parenthood, and funding for two national treasures, NPR and PBS.
I cannot believe that our service men and women in Afghanistan will now have to worry about their families receiving paychecks over the next few weeks.
I cannot believe that children, whose parents plan to bring them to Washington over spring break to see the cherry blossoms and visit the Smithsonian, may have to cancel their trips.
I cannot believe that disabled citizens will have their application for support put on hold.
I cannot believe any of this.
It is, in one word, incomprehensible.
Republicans scream that the American people sent them to Washington last fall to "reign in reckless spending."
Some did.
Many others think that cutting government oversight of the environment, human services, and education is dangerous and ill advised and could lead to the downfall of our great country.
Boehner, Ryan, et al. You have no mandate other than the one you imagine and try to pull out of thin air.
The American People, the ones you so love to invoke, do not want a government shut down. They want responsible compromise. They want responsible leaders.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Optimism
I'm an optimist:
Today I clicked "repeat every year" on my Ical entry that reminds me of my birthday.
This spring I plan to start a whole hedgerow of cyprus trees.
And, I always keep a bottle of champagne in my fridge.
Today I clicked "repeat every year" on my Ical entry that reminds me of my birthday.
This spring I plan to start a whole hedgerow of cyprus trees.
And, I always keep a bottle of champagne in my fridge.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
P.O.T.U.S. - do you have satellite radio yet?
Have you set up your subscription to Sirius/XM satellite radio yet? If not, what is your problem? It's really not that expensive. Bruce fan? You have your own station. Grateful Dead fan? Own station. Blues fan? Station. Jazz fan? Station. You get the idea.
But the most important reason I have found to subscribe to satellite radio is the relatively new station called P.O.T.U.S. — "politics of the United States for the people of the United States."
Wake up to Tim Farley providing an update of the day's news headlines, as well as history lessons and interviews with news makers.
Midday, Joe Matthieu takes over. He is a political guru and manages to get "the best reporters in the business" to weigh in on the day's issues. Joe can also be counted on to stay late or come in on weekends to provide live coverage. When Representative Giffords was shot in Tuscon, I was so relieved to find that Joe, and his talented staff, were on the job providing reliable information.
Come afternoon, Pete Dominick, takes to the airwaves. His goal is to find the most pressing issues of the day that affect the greatest number of Americans and find experts to comment on them. Then, he takes comments from callers. Pete is just a regular guy, a comedian, a husband, and a father, who wants to live a good life. He may be too passionate sometimes but you cannot doubt his honesty or integrity. That makes him a reliable discussion moderator.
The other day, Pete was out, and the most awesome Charles Ellison sat in for him. Callers love Charles, who is quite personable and gracious. One caller mentioned that Charles was the "greatest guest host" to fill in for Pete and then added that he was also filling in for the "greatest station in the history of broadcasting."
You know, that caller had a good point.
P.O.T.U.S. provides raw feed of events in Washington but moderates through intelligent reporting.
I love it.
But the most important reason I have found to subscribe to satellite radio is the relatively new station called P.O.T.U.S. — "politics of the United States for the people of the United States."
Wake up to Tim Farley providing an update of the day's news headlines, as well as history lessons and interviews with news makers.
Midday, Joe Matthieu takes over. He is a political guru and manages to get "the best reporters in the business" to weigh in on the day's issues. Joe can also be counted on to stay late or come in on weekends to provide live coverage. When Representative Giffords was shot in Tuscon, I was so relieved to find that Joe, and his talented staff, were on the job providing reliable information.
Come afternoon, Pete Dominick, takes to the airwaves. His goal is to find the most pressing issues of the day that affect the greatest number of Americans and find experts to comment on them. Then, he takes comments from callers. Pete is just a regular guy, a comedian, a husband, and a father, who wants to live a good life. He may be too passionate sometimes but you cannot doubt his honesty or integrity. That makes him a reliable discussion moderator.
The other day, Pete was out, and the most awesome Charles Ellison sat in for him. Callers love Charles, who is quite personable and gracious. One caller mentioned that Charles was the "greatest guest host" to fill in for Pete and then added that he was also filling in for the "greatest station in the history of broadcasting."
You know, that caller had a good point.
P.O.T.U.S. provides raw feed of events in Washington but moderates through intelligent reporting.
I love it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
A Diamond in Your Mind
Amazing words
author Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan / singer Solomon Burke
Best words from "Always Keep a Diamond in Your Mind," a song with intensely original and provocative lyrics:
She's got the milk of human kindness and the fat of the lamb
Scared like a baby, but she drives like a man
She lives outside of Natchez where she operates a crane
She's like a wrecking ball no longer connected to the chain
Oh Zerelda Samuel said she almost never prayed
Said she lost her right arm, blown off in a Pinkerton raid
Then they lashed her to a windmill with old "3-fingered Dave"
Now she's 102 drinking mint juleps in the shade
Everybody, always keep a diamond in your mind
(italics added)
You can hear Waits at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSnghcGigzY
Or for a more fulfilling version try Solomon Burke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ZDjRnNUJQ
author Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan / singer Solomon Burke
Best words from "Always Keep a Diamond in Your Mind," a song with intensely original and provocative lyrics:
She's got the milk of human kindness and the fat of the lamb
Scared like a baby, but she drives like a man
She lives outside of Natchez where she operates a crane
She's like a wrecking ball no longer connected to the chain
Oh Zerelda Samuel said she almost never prayed
Said she lost her right arm, blown off in a Pinkerton raid
Then they lashed her to a windmill with old "3-fingered Dave"
Now she's 102 drinking mint juleps in the shade
Everybody, always keep a diamond in your mind
(italics added)
You can hear Waits at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSnghcGigzY
Or for a more fulfilling version try Solomon Burke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ZDjRnNUJQ
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